Lantana plant named ‘DANTAN31’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lantana  cultivar named ‘DANTAN31’ is disclosed, characterized by low fruit production and intensely yellow single color inflorescence. The new variety has a compact and spreading habit and small leaves. The new variety is a  Lantana , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘DANTAN31’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lantana cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Lantana varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during March of 2007.

The new variety originated as a seedling from the open pollination of various, Lantana varieties. The actual seed parent is unknown as seed was bulk harvested from the collection of Lantana plants. The open pollination resulting in the bulk collected seed was organized by the inventor in an open field at a research nursery in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The new variety was selected in August of 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed by vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in November of 2008 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 100 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANTAN31’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DANTAN31’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DANTAN31’ as a new and distinct Lantana cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact and spreading habit.     -   2. Small leaves.     -   3. Very small amount of fruit produced.     -   4. Single color inflorescence, intense yellow color.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANTAN31’ are comparable to the variety Lantana ‘Bandana Cherry Surprise’, unpatented. The two Lantana varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DANTAN31’ produces small, narrow, leaves compared to the large and wide leaves of ‘Bandana Cherry Surprise’. Additionally ‘DANTAN31’ has a single color inflorescence of intense yellow whereas the comparator ‘Bandana Cherry Surprise’ has an inflorescence which changes from yellow to pink. Finally ‘DANTAN31’ has a more spreading habit compared to the compact and mounded habit of comparator ‘Bandana Cherry Surprise’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANTAN31’ are comparable to the variety Lantana ‘Bandana Peach’, unpatented. The two Lantana varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DANTAN31’ produces small narrow leaves compared to the large and wide leaves of ‘Bandana Peach’. Additionally ‘DANTAN31’ has a single color inflorescence of an intense yellow whereas the comparator ‘Bandana Peach’ has an inflorescence which changes from yellow to peach colored. Finally ‘DANTAN31’ has a more spreading habit compared to the compact and mounded habit of comparator ‘Bandana Peach’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DANTAN31’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DANTAN31’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DANTAN31’ plants grown in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 28° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 18° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara ‘DANTAN31’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 5 to 6 days. -   Root description: Fleshy, white and branching.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 12 weeks from a rooted     cutting. -   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm. -   Growth habit: Compact, slightly upright and mainly spreading to the     sides. -   Height: 15-20 cm. -   Plant spread: 25-30 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Well branched, basal branching. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 20 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.2 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 4-6. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Form.—Strait, Slightly ribbed longwise.         -   Diameter.—0.5-0.7 cm.         -   Color.—The side that face the sun light is grey-brown group             N199A RHS. The side that does not face the sun light is             yellow-green group 144A RHS.         -   Texture.—Stiff, with very light and delicate hair.         -   Strength.—Medium. -   Internode length: 2-3 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 per branch.         -   Average length.—4 cm.         -   Average width.—2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Oval.         -   Apex.—Moderately acute.         -   Base.—Pointed.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Coarse, with tiny rough hair.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Coarse, with tiny rough hair.         -   Aspect.—45 degrees up to the lateral branch.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green group 137A RHS. Young             foliage under side: Green group 137D RHS. Mature foliage             upper side: Yellow-green group 147A RHS. Mature foliage             under side: Yellow-green group 147B RHS. Venation: Midrib             with secondary veins and very dense tertiary veins across.             Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Yellow-green group             147A RHS. Venation color under side: Yellow-green group 147C             RHS.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: Green             group 137B RHS. Texture: Pubescent with short, soft hair.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring to Fall. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 8 weeks. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Umbel. -   Individual flower shape: Trumpet shaped. -   Rate of flower opening: 4 to 6 days from bud to fully opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: 1-1.5 weeks (dependent on outdoor     temperature, warmer temperatures cause the flower to age more     quickly). -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self cleaning. -   Overall inflorescence size:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 2-3 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 3 cm. -   Individual flower size:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Length.—0.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green groups N144B close to the base and             yellow-orange group 17A at the tip. -   Corolla:     -   -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 4 lobes fused together forming a             radial shape. Length: Upper and lower lobes 0.4 cm. Right             and left lobes 0.5 cm. Width: Upper and lower lobes 0.7 cm.             Right and left lobes 0.4 cm. Shape: Single-rounded. Margin:             Entire. Texture: Smooth. -   Color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Yellow-orange group 17B RHS.             Lower surface: Yellow-orange group 21C RHS.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Yellow-orange 17A RHS. Lower             surface: Yellow-orange 21B RHS.         -   Throat/tube.—Color: Yellow-orange group 19A RHS. Texture:             Covered with tiny dense smooth hair-resembling silk. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Form.—2 oblong bracts fuse together, forming a tubular             shape. Base fused, apex acute.         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Sepal shape.—Tubular.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal texture.—Smooth, covered with tiny dense smooth hair.         -   Sepal color.—(Transparent) Yellow green group N144B RHS. -   Flower bracts/inflorescence bracts:     -   -   Arrangement.—Solitary leaf under each flower inside the             inflorescence.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.15 cm.         -   Shape.—Strap shaped.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth, silky.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Yellow green group N146D RHS close to             the base and yellow-green group N146B RHS at the tip. Lower             surface: Yellow green group N146D close to the base and             yellow-green group N146C RHS at the tip. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 3-3.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1-0.2 cm.         -   Angle.—About 45 degrees.         -   Strength.—Medium.         -   Texture.—Smooth, covered with tiny dense smooth             hair-resembling silk.         -   Color.—Yellow-green group N144B RHS.         -   Flower fragrance.—Lemon-like. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—About 35 degrees.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Color.—Yellow-green group 144A RHS.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—4.         -   Filament length.—0.1 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Obovate. Length: 0.1 cm Width: 0.1 cm.             Color: Young: Yellow-orange group 14A RHS. Mature:             Grey-brown group N199C RHS. -   Pollen:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-orange group 14A RHS.         -   Amount.—Scant. -   Pistils:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.         -   Length.—0.25 cm.         -   Color.—Green-yellow group 1B RHS.         -   Ovary color.—Green group 143B RHS.         -   Stigma.—Green N144B RHS. Length: Approximately 0.05 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 0.05 cm.         -   Shape.—Ball shaped.         -   Color.—Yellow-green group 149B RHS.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Almost no fruit produced. Seed not observed to     date.     -   -   Fruit color.—Near RHS Black 202A.         -   Fruit shape.—Spherical.         -   Fruit diameter.—Approximately 0.7 cm. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     common diseases and pests of Lantana has been observed. -   General tolerances: Tolerant of drought conditions and high     temperatures to at least 40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘DANTAN31’ as herein illustrated and described. 